Hi all. The big news this week was about a new "Bye System" that is going
to be implemented for the STS. Also, learn how to get the "W"-stamped Dark
Arbok and Promo Jigglypuff at the 2-Day QT events. Read on...
SUPER TRAINER SHOWDOWN (STS) AND QUALIFYING TOURNAMENTS (QT's):
// Bye System Information
master_trainer_mike says, "Have you guys read about the STS Pokemon Bye
system?? If your DCI rating is 1700 - 1799 you earn a bye past the first
round, 1800- 1899 earns a bye past the first 2 rounds, and 1900+ earns a bye
past the first 3 rounds of the main tournaments at the upcoming East Coast
STS. Full info on our web site at
http://www.wizards.com/pokemon/main.asp?x=tour2001byes
<http://www.wizards.com/pokemon/main.asp?x=tour2001byes> "
master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with question #180 from
unown_master:
What exactly is a 'bye'?
master_trainer_mike says, "An automatic win for a round, you do not even
have to compete for that round, you just score a win."
master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with question #51 from pikabruce:
If you qualify for a bye at the STS, do you get it on both Saturday and
Sunday?
master_trainer_mike says, "For both days :)"
master_trainer_pat presents the speaker with question #53 from spago_:
are the byes for the DCI rankings in all age divisions- or just the 14- and
10-?
master_trainer_pat says, "Just the 14> and 10>"
master_trainer_mike says, "WRONGO!!!"
master_trainer_mike says, "The byes are for ALL age groups!"
master_trainer_pat says, "OK, the Byes are for everybody. They don't tell me
anything!"
master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with question #68 from gurtman:
How will the 3 byes at the STS figure into the resistance (in the case of
ties) vs someone who has played and won 3 games?
master_trainer_mike says, "Resistance no longer exists for tie breakers, bye
wins do NOT count as wins for tie breaking calculation."
master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with question #125 from
professormaple:
If there is a tie after the eight or nine rounds of the 2001 ECSTS, and two
players have identical 7 win/1 loss records... Player A has the three byes
and a lower resistance because they did not play against anyone in the first
three rounds... Player B has a higher resistance because they have played
three more people, thus, more resistance points... Do we go by resistance
points or opponent's average winning percentage?
master_trainer_mike says, "Ok, first we already said that this is NOT the
forum for these sorts of questions. Second I already stated that RESISTANCE
in tie breakers is NO LONGER DONE!"
master_trainer_mike says, "But to answer your question, if two players were
7-1 and one used 3 byes, in a tie breaking system, the player that is 7-1
WITHOUT using the byes wins the tie-breaker."
master_trainer_mike says, "Byes help and hurt at the same time."
master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with question #188 from
professormaple:
Could players with high DCI rankings choose not to accept the free byes?
master_trainer_mike says, "Yes, they always have that option. Many Magic
Tour Pro players do not use them for tie breaking purposes."
master_trainer_pat presents the speaker with question #28 from metal_entei:
what if I don't have a DCI rating?
master_trainer_pat says, "It's OK, you can still enter and maybe, just
maybe, win the whole thing. Just like Rocky."
master_trainer_pat presents the speaker with question #32 from
plasma_your_dead:
Where can I get myself a DCI rating cause my league doesn't do DCI?
master_trainer_pat says, "You have to compete in DCI tournaments like the
STS to earn your rating."
master_trainer_pat presents the speaker with question #147 from
plasma_your_dead:
How do you earn a DCI ranking (how many points do you earn, what point level
do you start at, just please tell me all about it)
master_trainer_pat says, "You start at 1600 points and your rating
fluctuates depending on the caliber of players you play and beat."
// STS Information
master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with question #13 from pikabruce:
STS web info says: "This STS is a two-day event, with all programs available
in full on both days." Does this mean that there are two tournaments (1
Saturday, 1 Sunday) for each age group?
master_trainer_mike says, "Yes there are!!"
// QT Information
master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with question #81 from firetrainer:
What events can I expect for 15 and up at STS qualifier?
master_trainer_mike says, "If it is a one day event there will be a
sanctioned open age tournament with prizes. If you go to a 2 day QT then
there will be League activities and the opportunity to earn the Dark Arbok
and Singing Jigglypuff promos."
master_trainer_pat presents the speaker with question #89 from hi_jynx:
I got booted out of the chat and missed my answer earlier...do I have to
attend both days of the 2-day events to qualify for the trip to the ECSTS?
master_trainer_pat says, "No."
master_trainer_pat presents the speaker with question #112 from megamanx:
how many times do you get to play in the STS Qualifiers when you go to one?
I was just wondering because of the tickets that you can possibly get if you
win at the Qualifier.
master_trainer_pat says, "Once you finish if you want to try again and there
are still openings you can enter again."
master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with question #172 from megamanx:
yeah but if you go in as many times as you want to, then how are you able to
win the tickets since only 2 kids can win them in the 11-14 group?
master_trainer_mike says, "You can ONLY WIN ONCE!!!!"
master_trainer_mike says, "GEEZ!!!!"
master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with question #208 from megamanx:
from q#172 Yeah i know that but how are you able to win one because you said
you are able to go try again, is it like the first people who win in the
tourney or what?
master_trainer_mike says, "Ok, the one day QT's are actually SWISS events
and you CANNOT enter more than once (just learned this) as there is only the
one tournament."
master_trainer_mike says, "At the two day events, there will be many flights
(and it is single elimination like last year). So if you get eliminated and
there happens to be an opening in a later flight, you could enter it again."
master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with question #244 from chrisbo:
OK, I'm confused. If the 2-Day QT's are going to have multiple
single-elimination flights, how are they going to decide which person gets
the plane trip? Random drawing?
master_trainer_mike says, "There will be a single elimination tournament
amongst all the flight winners in each age category."
master_trainer_mike says, "Here is some new information for you we just
got."
master_trainer_mike says, "If you win on day 1 of a QT or win on day one of
the STS, you CANNOT compete in another similar tournament for this. You can
still participate in side events, league activity, etc."
master_trainer_mike says, "So if you win a QT you cannot compete in another
QT for this STS."
master_trainer_pat presents the speaker with question #234 from tyais:
Is it legal for the Independent Tournament Organizer to charge entry fee to
QTs?
master_trainer_pat says, "The 10 and under and 14 and under QT events are
free, but other side events could have a fee."
master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with question #153 from articjedi:
what are the prizes for the side events
master_trainer_mike says, "that is up to the organizer of that particular
QT."
master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with question #235 from oldman_405:
At the QT's how will the pairings be held? random or DCI Reporter software?
master_trainer_mike says, "It will use the DCI reporter software WHICH pairs
you randomly, there is no seeding in the QT's."
PROMO CARDS:
master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with question #7 from metal_entei:
Are "W" Arbok and Jigglypuff only available at Pokemon QT ONLY or Pokemon
Leauge have them too?
master_trainer_mike says, "Correct only available to be earned at the 2 day
qualifiers."
master_trainer_pat presents the speaker with question #43 from
plasma_your_dead:
Are the W Arbok and Jigglypuff going to be released for one day events?
master_trainer_pat says, "No, only the 2 day events."
master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with question #209 from magmar2000:
Just wondering. Will there be a limit on the promos you can get at a 2 day
stop? And how will the promos be earned?
master_trainer_mike says, "Most likely (greedy again)....."
master_trainer_pat presents the speaker with question #88 from marril2000:
will the W Arbok and Jigglypuff Promos also be released at the ECSTS2? If
not, will there be a promo for the ECSTS2
master_trainer_mike says, "There are no announced plans for promos at the
ESTS."
master_trainer_pat presents the speaker with question #104 from kakkaroto7:
Will (keyword) you tell us what the next promos are? (36, 33, 37)
master_trainer_pat says, "I'm not(keyword) permitted to."
master_trainer_pat presents the speaker with question #24 from soslowpoke:
what's season 4's promo?
master_trainer_pat says, "That is not for you to know at this time!"
master_trainer_pat presents the speaker with question #67 from soslowpoke:
If we guess the promo right will you nod solemnly?
master_trainer_pat says, "Nope, the Mike's said I can't play that game
anymore!"
[CHRISBO NOTE: This refers to the "guess the promo and MT_Pat will nod his
head" game a few weeks back.]
master_trainer_pat presents the speaker with question #131 from scrye_fung:
Re. #67 .. the promo game. Which Mike? At last count, there were at least 20
Mikes working @ WotC ;)
master_trainer_pat says, "All of them!"
master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with question #132 from
unown_master:
How tall is Promo #33?
master_trainer_mike says, "all Pokemon cards are 3.5" tall :)"
master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with question #254 from trovtwo:
So when will the Southern islands set come out?
master_trainer_mike says, "Later this year, hopefully."